by scparents_admin | Apr 4, 2023 | Information for Parents
Know how to find help for your family.
Families need to have enough money to meet their basic needs (food, shelter, clothing, medical care and transportation) to prevent the unintended neglect that sometimes occurs. Connect to services that can help in times of stress or crisis.
- Learn about your community’s resources and how to access services.
- Find a Family Resource Center in your community.
- Volunteer to help others. Build a network of those who could help you down the road.
- Visit your local library.
- Connect into a faith community.
- Be honest about what you need with those who can help.
- Reach out for help before the crisis escalates.
Visit scParents.org to learn about services in your community. Enter your ZIP code to search for free or low-cost resources near you.
Learn more about protective factors for your family.
by scparents_admin | Apr 4, 2023 | Information for Parents
Love and accept your child so they can do that for themself and others.
Children need nurturing and supportive relationships with parents and caregivers to help them know how to regulate their emotions and handle their feelings.
Building positive relationships
- Regulate your own emotions so that your child feels safe to communicate theirs.
- Be patient with your child while they find the words to express how they feel.
- Recognize what your child does when they are sad or angry.
- Step away if you need to help yourself calm down. Have someone else watch your child for a few minutes.
- Stay calm when the chaos arrives.
- Show love in the good times and tough times.
- Maintain a sense of humor.
Helping kids handle their feelings
- Praise your child when they tell you how they feel.
- Let them know what they are experiencing is normal.
- Allow children some freedoms to make their own choices.
- Support them even when they mess up.
- Be consistent in your responses and follow-through.
- Celebrate when your child does something well.
- Make sure they have caregivers who nurture and love them.
- Teach your child something they can do: art, cooking, woodwork, sewing, car repair or gardening.
- Support their after-school activities.
- Help your child step away from a situation that may be overwhelming.
- Make sure your child has a safe, secure place to sleep.
- Create routines that help your kids eat and sleep on consistent schedules.
- Be aware that hunger and fatigue can escalate your child’s reactions.
Learn more about protective factors for your family.
by scparents_admin | Apr 4, 2023 | Information for Parents
Knowing how children grow is one of the best ways to set reasonable expectations for your child and yourself.
It is important to understand how children grow and develop and know parenting strategies that support positive child development.
Understanding child development
- Learn what children need at different ages and stages of development.
- Know that your child is unique and will develop differently than others.
- Kids change as they grow older. Adapt to meet new and ongoing needs.
- Have a relationship with a doctor’s office that answers your questions about the ages and stages of your child’s growth and development.
- Stay calm and present when your child is sad, angry or frustrated. Help them understand their feelings are normal and okay.
- Take a class to learn positive parenting strategies.
Understanding your child
- Read a story with your child.
- Ask your child questions about their day. Make this a part of your regular routine.
- Share your feelings and let them share theirs.
- Make sure kids understand what is safe and unsafe.
- Eat dinner together regularly.
- Celebrate when they succeed in school.
- Play games that encourage conversations.
- Spend time at your local library.
- Track growth on a chart or wall.
- Meet another family at the park. Help your child learn what it means to play well with others.
- Connect with trusted parents who can offer you counsel and wisdom.
- Be present at their school and after-school activities.
Learn more about protective factors for your family.
by scparents_admin | Apr 4, 2023 | Information for Parents
Families need people they can call on when they need sympathetic ear, advice or support. Conversely, research has shown families who are isolated are at higher risk for child abuse and neglect.
Recognizing your connections
- Identify the groups to which you belong –neighborhood, child care center, children’s school, kid’s afterschool activities, work, church, extended family.
- What groups help you feel good about yourself?
- Are there other places you would like to connect?
- Where do you spend your time? Do you have connections with others?
Building connections
- Get to know your neighbors.
- Learn more about your co-workers.
- Stay connected to your friends.
- Expand your circle and build relationships with friends of friends.
- Start a conversation with other parents while waiting on your kids. Find ways to introduce yourself.
- Link with other parents who have kids the same age as yours.
- Volunteer in your child’s classroom.
- Attend school activities.
- Become a regular at the local library.
- Invite other families to spend time with you at the park, library or community center.
- Find a faith community that has an active children and youth ministry.
Learn more about protective factors for your family.
by scparents_admin | Apr 4, 2023 | Information for Parents
Families who can cope with big and small stressors have resilience. Resilience often comes from resources such as faith, humor, supportive relationships and problem-solving skills. It helps us give our kids the nurturing care they need even when times are tough.
Recognizing your resilience
- What are your areas of strength?
- When you are under stress, what is most helpful to you?
- How do you celebrate and recognize your family’s race, culture, history and traditions?
- What are the actions that help you cope with everyday stress?
- What are some ways that you have protected your children from stress and its negative impacts?
Building resilience
- Get regular exercise.
- Celebrate your successes. Encourage yourself and your kids.
- Take a quiet walk.
- Look for the humor in the situation. Laugh.
- Listen to your favorite music.
- Meditate or pray.
- Do a mindfulness exercise.
- Keep a journal. Write down the things that are bothering you. Write down the things for which you are thankful.
- Talk with a trusted friend.
- Forgive others and yourself.
- Rest. Make sleep a priority.
- Remind yourself that you can get through this.
- Go somewhere that is new to you. Remove yourself from your stressful environment even if it is just a little while.
Learn more about protective factors for your family.
